Adjusting means for spring cushioning devices



Jane 23, 1931. v H. MESINGER 1,811,403

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR SPRING CUSHIONING DEVICES Filed Dec. 10 1928 l I IRE INVENTOR fi e/2; y Men/(yer ATTOR EY Patented June 23, 1931 PATENT OFFICE HENRY MESINGER, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK ADJUSTING MEANS FQR SPRING CUSHIONING DEVICES Application filed December 10, 1928. Serial No. 324,843.

' This invention relates to adjusting means for spring cushioning devices, and has for its general object and purpose to provide a simple and easily operable means for quickly adjusting and regulating the action of cushioning springs such as are generally employed in connection with motorcycles, bicycles and other machines adapted to be subjected to variable weights or pressures.

" It is a more particular object of the invention to provide an adjusting means for cush} ioning devices of that character having an inner compression spring and an outer expansion spring, the inner spring surrounding a hanger rod suitably attached to the motorcycle saddle and the outer spring being attached at its upper end to the cycle frame, said means including a manually adj ustable device on the hanger rod for adjusting the tension of both of said springs.

It is also an additional feature of the invention to provide means on the hanger rod andcooperating with the upper end of the inner compression spring whereby said spring may be adjusted independently of the outer spring.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the improved adj ustlng means for the cushlonlng devices, and

in the form, proportion and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustratedone simple and satisfactory embodi for motorcycle saddles, the intermediate portion of the rod being pivotally secured in suitable clamps or bracket members fixed to the under side of the saddle. 6 designates a rigidly fixed part of the cycle frame to which a terminal eye on the upper end of an expansion spring 7 is securely attached by means of the bolt 8. The lower end of this spring is also provided with an eye 9 secured between spaced washer plates 10 surrounding the lower end of a vertically disposed guide sleeve 11 and suitably fixed thereto.

The lower end of the hanger rod 5 is threaded as shown 12 and a second sleeve 13 loosely surrounds said rod and is also loosely guided within the sleeve 11. This inner sleeve 18 is positioned between the upper and lower Washer plates 14 and 15 respectively, the upper plate 14: constituting a bearing for the lower coil of the relativelysmall diameter inner compression spring 16 arranged on the rod 5. An adj usting nut 17 engaged with the threaded portion 12 of the rod bears against the lower washer plate 15 and is secured in its adjusted position by the lock nut 18.

Preferably, though not necessarily, I also secure upon the rod 5 at the upper end of the spring 16 a sleeve threaded at its upper end as at 19 and having an adjustable nut 20 engaged thereon constituting the upper abutment for the spring 16. The remaining portion 19 of the sleeve is unthreaded and extends downwardly within the spring 16 to a point slightly below the upper end of the outer spring 7. This sleeve serves to prevent lateral distortion or bending of the upper portion of the spring 16. The washer plate 14 normally rests upon the upper end of the sleeve 11, and since the outer expansion spring 7 is relatively heavy and stiff, it will be apparent that by adjusting the nut 20 on the threaded end of the sleeve 19, the tension of said inner spring16 may be regulated independently of said outer spring. Also, it will be apparent that by adjusting the lower nut 17 on the rod 5 and forcing the washer plate 15 upwardly against the lower end of the sleeve 13, said inner spring will thus be compressed. It will be understood that normally, the rod 5 when not under load, is sustained against gravity movement. However, in the continued adjustment of the. nut

after washer is brought into bearing contact against the lower end of sleeve 11, the

rod 5 is drawn downwardly through said sleeve to further compress. spring 16. -When the compression of the inner spring 16 in creases to a' point. where itv substantially equals the resistance of the spring 7 to compression, further adjustment of the nut 17 acting against the lower end of sleeve lI-will cause acompression of both the inner and outer spring. In this manner, it' is possible to so regulate and adjustthe tension of the sprlngs for either alight or heavy r der, that upon encountering depressions or obstruce tionsiin: the road, resultingin transmission of saddleseat-hasbeensubjected ly violentsh'o'ck or jar;

sho'ck'throu'gh th vehiclewheelsto the saddle seat, suchrshocks will. be eliectively absorbedzian'd.cushioned. 1 The outer: spring 7 acts :tonot onlyi'yielding'ly sustain the saddle seat under normal riding'conditions, butalso checks or: cushions *the rebound. when the to a particular From the: foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying draw ings', the construction and several advantages ofimyimprove'd. adjusting means: for spring cushionswill be clearly andfully understood.

Itwillibeseen that Lhave provided. a very simpledevice easily accessible for-purposes of adjustment and-whereby. the. desired reguiaa tionxof. the cushioningi'actionroi the springs maybeeasily and quickly'eiiected; It will 1 of: course, be understood that if desired, the adjusting meansQOfor the upper end of the inner spring-'lfilmay be dispensed with, and" the singlemeans at the lower end. ot'tlie' outer spring relied upon whereby both springs may be usted,

()f couir'se, when the shock or jar is:relative- 1y. light,,only1 the inner compression spring 16 actsto: cushionsuch shocks, inwhich case :the outer sleeve- 11 connected with the low-' er'end of the spring 7 remains relatively stationary, while the inner sleeve 13 moves downwardly in'the outer sleeve, together with the lowerendofthe'rod 5. Ihave found the arrangementof. the parts as shown in thedrawingsto be veryeffective ion the purposeof retaining the several elements in proper co-aX-ial relation and. relieving the outer spring of lateral or" si'dewise strains;

- However, itis-to' be understood that thedee' tail parts of myv present disclosureimay be susceptible ofinore or less modification,and.' I accordingly reserve-the prlvllege of resorting to all'such legitimate changesithereor in as 'may' be fairly embodied withinfthe spirit and scope of the invention as claimed;

I claim: I

v 1. Incombination withcushioning means having an outer 'expanslon spr ng fixediat' its 1 upperen'd', an inner compresslon spring, and

end of-theouter spring and transmitting the thrust ofsaid. inner spring :thereto, and manually adjustable means on said rod to coact with said sleeve and thereby simultaneously adjustthetensionof the inner and outer springs.

2. In combination with cushioning means having. anouter expansion spring fixed at its upper end, an inner compression spring, and a rod movable through'said. inner and outer springs,- 'means for regulatingthe action of said cushioning. springs including an 1 abut-- ment'member onthe rod-engaged by the up per end of they innerv spfrlng, a sleeve. sur- I'0EHCl1IIgJSa1d I0Cl and connected' wlthy the lower end .oit'the out'erspring and transmit ting the thrust o'f said inner. sprlng thereto, washer plate interposedbetween the lower;

end of the inner spring and the upper end of said sleeve, said rod extending-below said." sleeve, an ad usting nut threaded on SllCl.

rod: below the sleeve, and means loosely disposed through said sleeve and bearing.

against'said' washerfplate adapted for adj ustment relative to the rod and thesleeve to vary the tension ofsaid inner spring,andawasher plate interposed between said nut and the lowerendoit' the sleeveadapted to'coact with the latter to adjust spring.

3. In. combination with cushioningmeans havingxan outer expansionispring fixed at its upper end, an inner compression spring, anda rod movable. through said inner and:

outer springs, means for regulating. the actionlo'f said cushioning springs including an abutment member on therod 'engaged'by; the

upper. end of the inner spring, sleeve sur-g rounding: said rod and'connected with'the lowerend of the outer springand transmitting. the thrust-.of said. inner spring thereto, a-

second. sleeve looselysurrounding said rod.

and slidable within the outer sleeve, a collar interposed-between the: upper. ends ofisaid.

sleeves; and'thelower end of the inner spring,

said rod projecting below said sleeves, a washer plate-bearingagainst the lower end of the inner sleeve, and an adjusting nut tliread= ed on therod againstsaidwasher plate to, si-

multaneously move said sleeve longitu-i the inner and dinally of the'rod: and. adjust outer springs.

4; In. combination with cushioning.- means havlng HIIOHIJQPGXPEEHSIOH sprlng-fixed at its upper: end, an inner compression spring, and

a rod movablethrough said. inner and, outer spr1ngs,1means: for regulating. the action of the: tension of the outer said cushioning.springs including a threaded sleeve :fixe d: upon the. rod, .a nut: threaded: on

said sleeve bearing against the upper end of the inner spring to adjust the tension of said spring independently of the outer spring, a sleeve surrounding said rod and connected with the lower end of the outer spring and transmitting the thrust of said inner spring thereto, and manually adjustable means on said rod to coact with said sleeve and thereby simultaneously adjust the tension of the inner and outer springs.

5. In combination with a cushioning means having an outer expansion spring fixed at its upper end and an inner compression spring extending vertically above the outer spring and a rod movable through said inner spring; a sleeve fixed to said rod extending downwardly through the inner spring and having an abutment for the upper end of said spring, said rod projecting below both the inner and outer springs, a sleeve connected with the lower end of the outer spring and surrounding said rod and transmitting the thrust of said inner spring to the outer spring, and manually adjustable means on said rod ineluding a part extending through said sleeve for adjusting the tension of both the inner and outer springs.

6. In combination with cushioning means having an outer expansion spring fixed at one end, an inner compression spring and a rod movable through said inner and outer springs, means for simultaneously adjusting and regulating the action of said cushioning springs including an abutment on said rod engaged by the upper end of the compression spring, a movable member on said rod receiving the thrust of said compression spring and connected with the other end of the expansion spring, and means threaded on said rod manually adjustable relative thereto and coacting with the movable member to move the latter axially along the rod and thereby simultaneously adjust said springs and vary their resistance to axial movement of said rod.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

HENRY MESINGER. 

